Nevada County picayune., 1887-05-25
WASHINGTON TOPICS. Weekly Budget of News From the
 National Capital.
[From our Srceia! Corre.poGdent. ]


 WASHINGTON, D. C., May 2l, 1887.
 The preparations for the grand National Drill next week have reached the point of completion, and the generous scale of it's ap- pointments promise well tor the success of this great event. The prizes are the largest ever offered and in the .aggregate amount to S26. 300, and will be distributed as follows:-The best regiment of in- fantrv, a magnificent stand of col ors, with gold, silver and bronze medals to the officers. For.the best battalion of infantry 5000 to first and $500 to second. For the best company of infantry 5000 to first, S2jOO to second, Sl5O0 to third. 5000 to fourth and SoO0 to fifth. For the best company of cavalry 5000 to first and $500 to second. For the best platoon of light artillery $500 to first and slOOO to second. For the best platoon with machine guns s1Jo to first and $500 to second. For the best Zouave drill 5000 to first and s7JO to second. For the best in- fantry company of Cadets 5000 to first and S75O to second. For the best drilled soldier 500 and gold medal 10 first and s75O and silver medal to second.
 A very pretty custom that has prevailed at ,competive drills in the south has been that ot having "sponsorsr for the competing com panies. The sponsor is a lady se- lected by the company, who wears the company's colors, and who give her smiles and encouragement to the soldier boys for whom she stands sponsor. She has num- Der of ladies with her as maids of honor. The custom has had the effect of giving an added interest to the competitive drills in the la dies eyes. It is proposed that this custom be followed at the National Drill. A feature of the Drill Will be the Pyrorama exhibition of the Naval fight between the Monitor Merrimac. This is said to be one of the grandest and most realistic scenes ever produced The en. campment will present an army of tents, with all tle.equipments nee. essary to make lie under canvass comfortable. Between 1900 and 2OOO tents have been spread to shelter visiting organizations Tn true military style.
 For time there was much uncer. tainty as to the position oft he ne gro companies. A protest was en- tered against their admission on equal terms with the whites. But the Drill committee promptly and wisely refused to make any sec. tional exceptions. The colored troops will have separate camps but in all the exhibitions contests, they will stand upon the same 1 footing as the whites.
 It was an amusing mistake when certain Congressman at a ban auet in Columbus Georgia, said, "While we are here enjoying the lavish hospitality of this city, news comes to us that in the house of our fathers a child is bonn; let us all unite in the hope that mother and baby are doing we'll" The band al once struck up a lively air. and three cheers were given for Mrs Cleveland while the health of the National baby was drunk in sparkling Champagne. The mis- take was not discovered until the next day.
 It is now estimated that the Government revenues for the cur rent fiscal year will be greater by S14 .OOO,0O0 than was contemplated when the official estimates were submitted to the last Congress. The receipts are expected to az gre9a.e S310,OOO. .OOO.
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